For many years, the "independent consultant" was fakespeak for "out of work." It still is, in many ways. We can't consult when we're in our twenties; we don't have the chops. Which is why it was so cringe worthy when so many twenty somethings started popping up on the Internet as effing life coaches during the Pandemic. Are you kidding me? REALLY? While I will absolutely give you that most tweny year olds can run rings around my social media skills, not a single one of them can do what I can do in the worlds of life, business, professional speaking and a great deal more. Those skills come with life and losses. I never worked for a consultancy firm, Joshua, in the corporate world many of us consultants often don't. If we're good we carve out a niche, and learn to sell. While a good social network helps, you have to begin with nothing, and that is where sales skills are essential. Don't want to sell? Don't insult people by telling us you're a consultant. We sell 80% of the time to get our gigs. It never stops. And you're good at it or you starve.